The mom of the 19-year-old man {accused} of slashing two NYPD cops with a machete close to Instances Sq. on New 12 months’s Eve had reported his sudden and inexplicable terrorist leanings to their native police division in southern Maine three weeks earlier than the assault, DailyMail.com has discovered.
Talking in an unique interview on Tuesday, Wells Police Captain Gerald Congdon revealed Audra Bickford had been involved about her son Trevor Bickford and instructed cops he had been ‘performing unusual’ and speaking about ‘the Taliban.’
The police division responded to the mother’s fears by contacting the FBI, which positioned Bickford on a watch checklist, Congdon stated, nonetheless, there isn’t a indication that native police did something to additional examine or monitor the younger man.
Audra Bickford had reported her 19-year-old son Trevor Bickford’s (pictured collectively) terrorist leanings to police in Wells, Maine, three weeks earlier than he allegedly attacked three NYPD officers in Instances Sq. on New 12 months’s Eve
‘She did not know the place to show,’ Congdon instructed DailyMail.com. ‘So she got here to the police for steerage.
‘She was involved.’
Congdon stated he was as shocked as anybody to study that the native highschool grad, soccer participant, and choir member had carried out the assault in New York Metropolis as revelers gathered within the Crossroads of the World.
Bickford is alleged to have approached the officers on eighth Avenue between 51st and 52nd streets armed with a big knife that he used to slash two of them within the head.
DailyMail.com can establish the 2 officers as Paul Cozzolino and Louis Iorio. A 3rd officer, Mickel Hanna, fired at Bickford in response, hitting him within the shoulder.
The suspect and the 2 injured cops have been taken to Bellevue Hospital the place they’re in severe however secure situation.
‘Some time again, the household referred to as and stated he was performing unusual or he needed to depart, and there was some discuss in regards to the Taliban and all that type of stuff,’ Congdon instructed DailyMail.com.
‘So we referred to as the FBI they usually handled it. In order that was it for us. We did not examine something.’
DailyMail.com can reveal police then reported Bickford to the FBI who positioned the teenager on the watch checklist, however native authorities didn’t do something to additional examine or monitor him
Bickford allegedly slashed two officers with this machete on eighth Avenue close to Instances Sq. round 10pm Saturday night time the place 1000’s of revelers ready to ring within the new 12 months
Bickford reportedly professed his want to affix the Taliban in Afghanistan. Taliban militants are seen above patrolling Kabul final 12 months, after retaking management of the nation
The assault was ‘unprovoked,’ Adams stated on the press convention in a single day. Each Sewell and Adams burdened there isn’t a ‘lively menace’ to the neighborhood
‘I suppose they got here down and interviewed him,’ he added. ‘The FBI did their factor. To my information, that was it.’
After the FBI positioned him on a watch checklist, Congdon stated he is aware of of no follow-up by native police.
He instructed DailyMail.com that he would want to evaluation police information to search out further particulars of what was or wasn’t completed.
Trevor Bickford was dwelling along with his household 5 miles from the police station. His grandmother and great-grandmother reside simply behind the station, on the primary business strip of the practically all-white city with simply 11,000 residents.
No person from the household was speaking to the media.
The captain was left questioning similar to different locals about Bickford’s flip to Islamic extremism, a primary for the neighborhood.
‘The place did he get this from? We do not know,’ Congdon stated. ‘I doubt if his household is aware of.’
He stated there have been no native incidents of hostility towards cops.
‘My guess is that maybe, what’s it they are saying, “you do not crap in your individual yard”,’ he stated.
‘If there was quite a lot of noise right here, then all people could be watching him. If he did something, it wasn’t round right here. And it was the household that seen that he was performing unusual in what he was saying. So that they’re those who reached out.’
However he stated police have been referred to as to the Bickford residence twice on successive days in August, Trevor was solely there for the second on August 10 however was not concerned. He was not there for the primary disturbance someday earlier.
Congdon talked about Bickford’s obvious radicalization on-line.
‘You’ve individuals which are looking for one thing,’ he stated. ‘Possibly they’re loners, perhaps they do not have pals. They’re on the lookout for one thing to affix.
‘Possibly that is what he did. As a result of it isn’t like the remainder of the household have proven any indication in any respect of getting affiliation or ideas of these items.’
He additionally attributed the assault to a psychological well being disaster in America.
Bickford was dwelling along with his household 5 miles from the police station in Wells, Maine (pictured). His grandmother and great-grandmother reside simply behind the station, on the primary business strip of the city
Bickford’s home is positioned on Alpine Road in Wells, Maine – practically 5 hours north of NYC
The boy’s mother (pictured with Trevor and her two different sons) had referred to as cops with considerations over her son Trevor who had been ‘performing unusual’ and speaking about ‘the Taliban,’ police stated
‘Sadly, there are lots of people in a psychological well being disaster at this time,’ he stated.
‘Police not simply right here however throughout the nation are coping with psychological well being and people who find themselves in disaster than ever earlier than. And that is a part of it.
‘Why are individuals taking pictures up faculties, or going into companies, is it to make an announcement about what?’ he stated. ‘I feel most of those persons are having points with psychological well being.
‘If that is (Bickford’s) ideology of Taliban and eager to go to Afghanistan, that is as much as him,’ he continued.
‘However to start out performing out and attacking three cops, I do not suppose anybody is aware of what was going by way of his head apart from him. Happily, he wasn’t killed when he was shot, so perhaps they will have a chance to interview him.’
Bickford was hit with New York state expenses on Monday, together with two counts of tried homicide on a police officer and two counts of tried assault.
A federal investigation into potential terrorism expenses continues to be pending.
Through the assault, Bickford was carrying a handwritten diary professing his want to affix the Taliban in Afghanistan, additionally writing that he he wished to die as a martyr, CNN reported, citing legislation enforcement sources.
After Bickford allegedly slashed two officers shortly earlier than midnight Saturday, one other NYPD officer shot him within the shoulder and he was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, together with the 2 cops. They’re all anticipated to outlive.
On Sunday, the FBI raided the teenager’s household house in Wells, Maine, the place Bickford was by all appearances an upstanding highschool scholar earlier than allegedly radicalizing himself to Islamic extremism.
Along with the diary, Bickford reportedly carried a chilling letter wherein he he urged his household to ‘repent to Allah’ so that they ‘could also be taken out of the hellfire.’
‘To my household — particularly, mom — I am sorry for not having been a ok son,’ the observe learn, in line with a police supply who spoke with the New York Publish.
The observe, which has not been launched publicly, continued with Bickford allegedly writing his hopes that his household will someday see the world the best way he does.
The entire injured have been taken to Bellevue Hospital the place they’re in severe however secure situation, officers have stated
The FBI raided the teenager’s household house in Wells, Maine, the place Bickford was by all appearances an upstanding highschool scholar earlier than allegedly radicalizing himself to Islamic extremism
Earlier than the assault on New 12 months’s Eve, Bickford had been an honor roll scholar, received awards for his art work, and was a member of the championship soccer workforce in his hometown.
However after his father died of a drug overdose in 2018, it seems Bickford’s life descended into turmoil.
‘I concern drastically that you’ll not repent to Allah,’ he wrote within the observe to household reported by the Publish.
‘And due to this fact I maintain hope in my coronary heart {that a} piece of you believes so that you could be be taken out to the hellfire.’
Bickford went on to name his brother Devon a traitor for serving within the U.S. Military.
‘To Devon, there was a time after we have been shut, however that point has handed,’ the manifesto stated, in line with the Publish.
‘You’ve joined the ranks of my enemy. And for that I may give you no sort phrases – return to Allah,’ wrote the 19-year-old, who doesn’t have a prison document in line with a preliminary investigation.
‘To [my brother] Travis. Of anybody I’ve identified who I’ve felt is closest to religion — it is you,’ Bickford allegedly wrote.
‘Of anybody I’ve ever needed to just accept Islam with me — it is you. Please repent to Allah and settle for Islam. I concern for you.’
Native information present that Trevor Bickford’s dad and mom have been engaged in a home battle again in 2017, a 12 months earlier than the dad’s overdose demise.
A decide granted a protecting order stopping Thomas Bickford from contacting his spouse, Audra, with exceptions carved out for texting her about childcare and monetary points, pending divorce, court docket information present.
He was additionally permitted contact at sporting occasions for his or her youngsters. He was arrested in August 2017 and charged with three counts of violating the safety from abuse order.
The case was vacated after his demise in March 2018, information present
On Saturday night time, Bickford allegedly attacked two NYPD cops on Eighth Avenue between 51st and 52nd Road, proper exterior Instances Sq. the place 1000’s of revelers have been ringing within the new 12 months.
One other officer shot at Bickford, hanging him within the shoulder. He stays hospitalized on the Bellevue and expenses are pending.
Bickford doesn’t have a prison document in line with a preliminary investigation, however police sources say the FBI’s discipline workplace in Boston has an open case on him.
Bickford (on far proper) is pictured on many social media posts with brothers Devin and Travis
Images posted on-line by his household present Bickford along with his brothers or along with his canine
Authorities have instructed NBC they have been trying into whether or not the suspect had beforehand posted what they referred to as jihadist writings on-line after which traveled to New York Metropolis to focus on police.
Images posted to Fb present Bickford at completely different occasions of his life, many along with his two brothers Devin and Travis.
There are photographs of him taking part in soccer with the championship Wells Excessive College Warriors soccer workforce, singing within the choir, and marching with the colour guard.
As just lately as 2020, he was amongst a bunch of scholars to win awards for his or her art work. Bickford received for his work in jewellery, Seacoastonline reported on the time.
Previous to his demise in 2018 – reportedly of a drug overdose – his father Thomas Bickford proudly posted photographs of his sons and their achievements.
His dad Thomas Bickford died unexpectedly in 2018 at age 41, in line with his obit
Household and pals have been fast to reward the boys and their brilliant futures. Bickford’s father died on the age of 41, in line with his obituary.
His dad and mom Thomas and Audra D’Antilio married on September 9, 2001, and raised three sons, Devin, Trevor, and Travis, in Wells, Maine.
The patriarch of the household might usually be discovered teaching them at soccer and wrestling, in line with the obituary.
It additionally stated he was typically exhausting on his sons when it comes to his type of teaching, however ‘he beloved his boys greater than something.’
Bickford’s mom Audra D’Antilio, who finally remarried, additionally has a slew of photographs on her Fb web page the place she gushes about her son, calling him an ‘previous soul’ and writes that she feels fortunate to be his mom.
On July 28, she shared a photograph of Bickford for his nineteenth birthday and wrote: ‘Pleased nineteenth Birthday Trevor. So proud and fortunate to have the ability to name you my son.
‘You are an previous soul and also you amaze me on daily basis with all that you simply get pleasure from to discover and do. I like that you haven’t any concern of attempting new issues, and also you actually are the very best brother ever. I’m so past pleased with the person you’re changing into, I like you.’
Simply six months later, Bickford is being {accused} of the assaults on the NYPD officers. Bickford and the cops are all at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, the place are all anticipated to outlive.
The entire household is pictured on the Tower of Terror in Disney World
Michael Driscoll, the assistant director in control of the FBI’s New York discipline workplace, stated the FBI’s Joint Terrorist Job Pressure in New York Metropolis was investigating however investigators consider the attacker acted alone.
The assault occurred simply exterior of the high-security zone the place 1000’s of revelers have been screened for weapons as they ready to ring in 2023.
Bickford is {accused} of slashing one officer within the head, hanging a second officer with the machete, and swinging at a 3rd cop, who fired his weapon, hanging Bickford within the shoulder.
The assault and sound of a gunshot briefly despatched some individuals operating, however the festivities in Instances Sq. continued uninterrupted.
Mayor Eric Adams stated at a information convention early Sunday that he spoke to one of many wounded officers as he was being stitched up on the hospital.
‘He was in good spirits,’ Adams stated. ‘He understood that his function saved lives of New Yorkers at this time.’
